88 THE HANDSOME MODEL. 



my finger towards him, and whispered to the caperer, " Take care you do 

 not give that gentleman the head-ache." 



At these words, the shirtless waltzer threw himself on a chair, ready to 

 burst with laughter. " Come that is a good one ! the boy is fairly hum- 

 bugged ! he takes the layman for a grenadier ! Don't be afraid, my little 

 fellow ; I'll engage he shall do you no harm. It is mere inanimate nature. 

 He cannot boast, like us, the vital fluid and spiritual brain." 



How, nothing but a figure ! I could scarce believe it. I went over to feel 

 it. " Halt there, abortion!" said the fine singer, stopping me; " touch not 

 that, unhappy wretch were you to disarrange but one fold, the artist would 

 give you to all the devils, and you might get paid in a coin you would never 

 think of pocketing." " Excuse me, sir, I did not know " " Now that 

 you do know, beware of touching I must practise the step which I have to 

 dance to-night at La Chaumiere." " But, sir, you must be very cold, 

 standing so long without your shirt!" "And an't I well accustomed to it ! 

 I that for fifteen years have sat for a torso! You are not aware, innocent 

 creature, that you stand before Rossignol, the finest model in Paris for a 

 torso! Ah! did but the rest of my body correspond, I should be worth 

 twelve francs a-day but unfortunately there is no swell in my thighs, and I 

 have little calf to my legs, though I stuff myself with beans in order to make 

 them grow. But never mind, I have still a fair share ; add to which an in- 

 teresting countenance, a light and active step, and one would not wonder at 

 the number of conquests I have effected un deux chassez assemblez et 

 la pirouette de rigueur what pity 'tis my coat should be so dirty, and my hat 

 so torn but M. Dermilly advanced me five-and-twenty francs the day before 

 yesterday, and I am already quite cleared out. ' Fortune favours the brave' 

 I say, you could not lend me four-and-twenty sous for a week, could you, 

 my little fellow ? I will return you twenty-five." " I have no money about 

 me, sir father Bernard keeps my purse." " Well I'll put a drop of oil on 

 my pumps to give me a wealthy appearance. Notning strikes people so much 

 as well-polished shoes." 



M. Rossignol took the bottle of oil and smeared some of it with one of the 

 brushes over the blacking of his shoes ; then pouring a little in the hollow of 

 each hand, he rubbed it through his hair. Whilst he was taken up with his 

 toilette, I amused myself by examining him. The model was a man of about 

 thirty-six years of age, of a sufficiently good height ; his hair was black and 

 matted ; his grey eyes had a strong expression of impudence and liveliness, 

 which joined to his snuffy cocked-up nose, and a mouth from ear to ear, 

 which was ever open in chanting his ditties, made a most original phy- 

 siognomy. 



" It is a great pity," said he, twisting his hair in his fingers, " that I can't 

 improve my coat by the same process but I will just rub a drop over my 

 hat it smells somewhat rancid no matter, my beauty will find me suf- 

 ficiently pleasing but with thirteen sous, which is all I am worth, I cannot 

 treat her to a chapon au riz. Perhaps, however, we may meet some friends." 



As I saw the gentleman settle his shoes and hair, I took it for granted 

 that he was going to dress himself entirely, and I handed him his shirt and 

 coat, which had been lying on the ground in a corner of the room. "Thank 

 you, my little fellow," said he, " but I shan't dress myself till my patron 

 returns and dismisses me. One does not stand for a torso with one's shirt 

 on but that is all Greek to you. However, my little fellow, as nature is 

 bountiful to you, take my advice, and never follow any other trade. Make 

 a model of yourself it is a business very easily learnt you have nothing to 

 do but to stand quiet. Painters and models are all I trouble myself about. 

 There must be models for painters and painters for models you understand 

 that. Ah, if my wife had not humbugged me so, we should have actually 

 coined money. I married her for her shape, which seemed to resemble that 



